Blogs

Sarah Gregory—Getting it Done

By Megan Lorian Crites AIA posted 2 days ago
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Getting it Done Sarah Gregory is a vocal advocate in design for aging putting her expertise to good use. With an energetic and passionate personality, Sarah may appear modest, but her work is paving the way for future designers and industry leaders. A University of Arkansas alum, Sarah moved to the Carolinas in 2007. It is here where she first dipped her toe in the water with senior living design. Working for small, medium, and large firms, Sarah shares that she sees the best and most opportunities for individual growth in medium and small size firms. Focusing her attention and professional practice on senior living design, Sarah sought architecture firms ...
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Emily Pierson-Brown—Community Advocate

By Megan Lorian Crites AIA posted 29 days ago
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Community Advocate Emily Pierson-Brown is passionate about advocacy and community service. Harnessing this passion as fuel to her work, Emily has created a place for herself that encompasses her skills and sets her apart from the crowd. As a licensed architect and a licensed planner, she approaches every project with a unique perspective. Emily has a magnetic personality and a true desire to understand design goals impacting the end-user. A native of New Jersey and graduate from University of Virginia, Emily shared that following college, she did not go straight into architecture design. After working for Borders Books for 10 years, she began working for ...
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Kawneer Partner Content: Performance and aesthetics for healthcare

By Eana Bacchiocchi posted 10-20-2022
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Healthcare facilities play an essential role in our lives. As a global leader in architectural aluminum systems, Kawneer offers innovative solutions for the healthcare sector. Kawneer’s façade solutions enhance occupant comfort, health, and well-being, while improving the thermal performance and aesthetics of healthcare facilities. Window solutions and glazing systems maximize natural daylight and ventilation, positively influencing sleep and the healing process. Sun control products, such as the Versoleil SunShade and InLighten Interior Light Shelf promote comfort for both patients and healthcare professionals by reducing solar heat gain and glare. ...
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Initial Recommendations on Awards and Carbon Literacy

By Vincent Martinez Hon. AIA posted 10-20-2022
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Over the past few months CCADE conducted two listening sessions on the topic of awards and one of two planned listening sessions on the topic of Professional Education – Content, as those topics relate to advancing the AIA Climate Action Plan and the Framework for Design Excellence (F4DE). Below is a summary of CCADE’s recent recommendations to the AIA Board of Directors on the topic of awards as well as an initial recommendation on the topic of Professional Education – Content as we continue our listening sessions on the topic. Executive Summary of the Recommendations on Awards Awards have tremendous value to the profession and the AIA in ...
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Works in Progress

By Michael R. Davis FAIA posted 10-20-2022
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All architects understand the term “works in progress.” We know that a set of construction documents at 75% completion isn’t ready for our clients to build from. Same goes for legislation. Just because a law we have advocated for gets passed doesn’t mean our work is done! An important part of public policy advocacy is influencing how the provisions of a law are implemented. To do that, you need to stay “at the table” even after the bill has been signed.      Take the 2022 Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) for example. Yes, we were right to celebrate the AIA’s success in seeing many of our climate action policy goals being addressed in that major bill. ...
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BOOK REVIEW: Build Beyond Zero by Alissa Kingsley, AIA

By Eana Bacchiocchi posted 10-20-2022
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It is well established that the built environment is responsible for a signification portion of the CO2 emissions that are driving global warming. And we have a very short window, less than a decade, to cut draw down emissions enough to head off the worst impacts. In Build Beyond Zero (Island Press, 2022), Bruce King and Chris Magwood make an urgent case to design and build beyond net-zero buildings. The aim needs to be higher – we need today regenerative, carbon-storing buildings. Data packed, accessible, and compelling, Build Beyond Zero avoids the defeatist or alarmist platitudes of some climate-related books. Instead, with a healthy dose of ...
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Climate Action at the Chapter Level: Learning from Leaders

By Kendall Claus Assoc. AIA posted 10-20-2022
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2022 has been another year of adjustments for many of us. Despite the difficulties, the COTE Network has grown across the country. It always has been, but these past couple of years have proven in fact, how exceptionally resilient COTE is. The Network is made up of some of the most passionate, hard-working volunteers under the AIA umbrella. Since its inception we’ve had to prove our value to members and to the industry, but the air is a little different now; a little hotter. Climate change is upon us and people can feel it, therefore it seems more are willing to listen. AIA COTE groups are the boots on the ground, working to uphold COTE’s mission ...
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Progress and Opportunity: AIA 2030 Commitment’s By the Numbers report released

By Ashley A. Mulhall AIA posted 10-20-2022
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Progress and Opportunity: AIA 2030 Commitment’s By the Numbers report released By Vanessa Hostick, AIA and Ashley Mulhall, AIA The AIA recently released the AIA 2030 Commitment 2021 By the Numbers report in a new way, presenting the data and summaries in a new, engaging web-based format that is easy to digest and navigate. The 2021 report marks more than 10 years of data tracking and analysis in a program that represents more than 56,000 AEC professionals leading the design response to climate change. We are encouraged by the continued growth of the program, both in firms reporting and in the number of projects achieving ...
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LETTER from the Chair: November/December 2022

By Billie J. Faircloth FAIA posted 10-20-2022
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Dear COTE Community, As the 2022 season of COTE’s Subcommittee work comes to a close, our priority for outreach, dialogue, and coordination persist … and promises to shape the work of our subcommittees in 2023:  Talking with Lakisha Ann Woods Where are the barriers in COTE’s work? How is the COTE Network responding to the need for climate action and equity literacy? Through these questions, we framed our conversation with Lakisha Ann Woods, the AIA Executive Vice President/Chief Executive Officer. As a continuation of her listening tour, Lakisha provided insight into COTE’s programs and most pressing issues, affirming the COTE Network’s ...
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Cynthia Shonaiya—The Project Magician

By Megan Lorian Crites AIA posted 10-18-2022
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The Project Magician Cynthia Shonaiya’s project expertise runs from soup to nuts. As a multi-faceted, tenacious individual, Cynthia goes both broad and deep in her work. In 1997, Cynthia decided to plant her roots in Baltimore, after immigrating to the United States. She began her journey with a small architecture firm while pursuing her Master’s in Architecture. Several years later, she joined Hord Coplan Macht (HCM) and has been part of their team, growing their Senior Living design sector for the last 22 years. Serving as a principal, on the board of directors, and as an owner of HCM, Cynthia recalls that she “fell into” Senior Living design. She has ...
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The lack of software readily available to architects that provides automation for repetitive tasks and has intelligence is surprising.

By Douglas D. Hanson AIA posted 10-06-2022
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There are a number of tasks that architects do on a daily basis that could easily be automated and there are other tasks where a database could save time and create less uncertainty. For example. WHAT IF the software worked out the Parking Plan? As architects, we should be able to type in the name of the city and the software should do the rest. WHAT IF the software provided easy access to comprehensive project data ? As architects, we should be able to easily access the historical data that went into the development of any particular part of the project. This would create more efficient workflows for the team and therefore save time and ...
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Top Resources for Construction Contract Administration

By Emma Tucker posted 10-04-2022
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Compiled by the 2022 CCA Leadership Group Continuing in the tradition of past compilations of tips and resources, we've pulled together a list of our top resources for those learning about and practicing construction contract administration. We'd love to expand on this list in the future - if you've got other resources that have proven invaluable, please email us at cca@aia.org or post about them on our CCA discussion board! Project-specific essential documents Owner-AE Contract (AIA B101/ B201) Construction Contract (AIA A101/ A201 and their variations) Contract Drawings and Project Manual Schedule GMP/Schedule of Values/Estimate BIM ...
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A Letter from the Chair: October 2022

By Sue Ann Pemberton FAIA posted 09-30-2022
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Let’s take a look at the Historic Resources Committee. People often think of “historic resources” as object buildings to be preserved or reused if they are deemed important enough. Most architects probably think the role of the Historic Resources Committee is to “preserve architectural heritage,” as a single focus, but there is a much bigger role to play. Historic Resources touch on many different facets of design, our community, and our future. It’s easy to understand that reusing an existing building reduces the amount of material going to the landfill but, exiting buildings can have a greater impact and should be part of a larger conversation. ...
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2023 COTE Top Ten Award Submissions: Q&A

By Eana Bacchiocchi posted 09-26-2022
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This page contains common questions and answers for submitting to the COTE Top Ten award cycle. Have more specific questions? Join us for office hours below or email us at honorsawards@aia.org! For general questions on AIA awards, please see Honors and Awards FAQ page . -Wednesday, November 9th, 3-4pm ET Register now > -Wednesday, December 1st, 2-3pm ET Register now > Q: I’m confused by the image requirements. Do I really need one image per Framework for Design Excellence (FDE) principle? What if some of the principles don’t apply to my project? What if I can’t get photos of every major space? A: Top Ten images serve two ...
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SFx All-Call resources for small firms

By Bruce T. Fallon AIA posted 09-16-2022
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Each month the SFx Board and SFx State Representatives meet virtually to learn about resources available to help small firms improve their practices. The summaries below describe the topics discussed along with any resources that could be helpful to you in running your firm. To get more information, contact your SFx State Representative . January 2022 On our first call of the year, the AIA Trust shared resources available for small firms. Insurance options including life, liability, business owner, cyber liability, disability, auto, home, healthcare, long term care, travel and pet health insurance. AIA Trust Legal Network where you can ...
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SFx Newsletter - August 2022

By Kathleen McCormick posted 09-15-2022
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From: AIA Small Firm Exchange ( sfx@aia.org ) Subject line : Small Firms Rising Current SFx board members Matt, Venesa, and Darguin hanging out at the A’22 SFx party hosted by Urban Lab. Flex your leadership skills with the AIA Small Firm Exchange Help us increase the influence of small firms within the AIA by volunteering directly for the national Small Firm Exchange as your state’s representative. We are looking for volunteers who want to be a catalyst for change and make a positive impact on the architecture profession. SFx provides lots of opportunities to network with peers, share resources, and advocate for small firms on a ...
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LETTER from the Chair: September/October 2022

By Billie J. Faircloth FAIA posted 09-01-2022
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Dear COTE Community, The COTE Leadership Group (LG) has much to share about staff transitions, the launch of the 2023 COTE Top Ten Awards, and opportunities for engagement : Saying Thank You and Welcome With deep gratitude, the AIA COTE LG recognizes the service of Melissa Wackerle and Melissa Morancy, AIA national staff members who are moving on to new assignments within the AIA. Both joined our Knowledge Community more than eight years ago and have worked to deliver COTE initiatives and programs on behalf of AIA members. Both will continue their work on climate action within the AIA: Melissa Wackerle is now the Senior Director ...
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SURVEY: How do you use climate projection data? respond by 15 September

By Kira L. Gould Hon. AIA posted 08-26-2022
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SURVEY: How do you use climate projection data? Architecture and Engineering (A&E) professionals are well-positioned to advance climate adaptation innovations and high-value services through the effective use of climate information and data. Sources of this information are becoming more widely available, yet they are often not well-suited for immediate A&E applications. The University of Minnesota Climate Adaptation Partnership (MCAP) and HGA Architects and Engineers invite you to take this 15-minute survey by 15 September 2022 to gather input on how you and your organization identify, obtain, and apply climate information ...
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Revamped AIA COTE Top Ten Launches in September

By Michelle Amt AIA posted 08-26-2022
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Revamped AIA COTE Top Ten Launches in September by Michelle Amt, AIA Since 1997, the AIA COTE Top Ten Awards have recognized projects that exemplify the integration of design and performance.  It is widely recognized as the nation's premier accolade for sustainable design, with criteria that range from big-picture storytelling to performance metrics that show actual achievement, not just aspiration. Winning projects are published widely, both within and beyond the architecture world, as exemplars of holistic design excellence -- inclusive of climate response, human and ecological health, and community and equity considerations.   The ...
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Reporting & Advancing:  How Small Firms Leverage the AIA 2030 Commitment

By Kira L. Gould Hon. AIA posted 08-26-2022
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Reporting & Advancing:  How Small Firms Leverage the AIA 2030 Commitment By Kira Gould, Hon. AIA The AIA 2030 Commitment has been growing steadily since its launch more than a decade ago, as a tool for architects, firms, and the profession to measure and improve its climate action effectiveness. Today, 1,100 signatory firms represent 54,000 architects, more than half of the AIA’s 94,000 members. The AIA is comprised of 69,000 firms—the majority being small firms and sole practitioners—who are underrepresented among signatories. Unfortunately, a perception persists that the program is better suited to large firms (especially ...
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